Tag Archives: Measure C
Community rallies to get pool measure on ballot
About 75 people rallied on the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Derby Street in Berkeley Sunday afternoon to convince the City Council to put a pool bond measure on the November ballot.
Holding signs that read “Save Willard Pool,” and “Honk if you like to swim,” the group of students, parents, and community members yelled, chanted, and encouraged people to sign a petition that called for the reopening of Willard pool, which was closed and filled with dirt in 2010. (The petition is also posted at Change.org.)
“I would like to see Willard Pool open again,” said Amelie Melde Fontenay, a parent of a Willard School student. “My only son got here just in time to see the pool filled in with dirt. I don’t think it’s fair that the other two (middle) schools have pools and Willard doesn’t.” … Continue reading »
A “funeral” for a much-loved Berkeley swimming pool
Berkeley’s Warm Pool at the Old Gym on the Berkeley High campus filled with swimmers Wednesday night for probably the last time ever, as scores of pool loyalists gathered for a mock funeral. The Old Gym is being shuttered and is slated to be demolished in 2012. Above is a video shot last night, which includes some images taken of the pool in use on other days. It is by L.A. Wood. Robert Collier, Co-Chair of the Berkeley Pools Campaign, filed the report below:
After nearly three decades of being a lifeline for many disabled and elderly residents, the decrepit yet much-loved facility at Berkeley High School is closing forever.
Wednesday’s ceremony was a very Berkeley event: Rabbi Sara Shendelman played Tibetan bells and read prayers from several different world spiritual traditions. A symbolic coffin was carried alongside the pool, as participants held candles and mourned the loss of the Warm Pool as clouds of steam rose from the water. … Continue reading »
Willard swimming pool is now filled with mud
The city of Berkeley has filled Willard pool with dirt. The pool was shut down June 30, 2010 after voters rejected Measure C, which would have imposed a special tax to help maintain Berkeley’s four public swimming pools.
Don’t make the mistake of trying to dive in.
Comment: Voting on Measure C shows a city split
Robert Collier, co-chair of the Berkeley Pools Campaign, has analysed the results of the votes cast for and against Measure C, the failure of which led to yesterday’s closure of Willard Pool.
At 7:30 pm Wednesday, after exactly 46 years and four days of serving the children and adults of south Berkeley, Willard Pool closed for what may be the last time. Swimmers finished their final laps as the sun set westward. Lifeguards drew the covers and prepared to turn off … Continue reading »
Last-gasp bid to save Willard Pool eyes city subsidies
An eleventh hour attempt to save Willard Pool, at least for the summer, has been hatched by the head of a Berkeley neighborhood association and will be presented at tonight’s City Council meeting by councilmember Gordon Wozniak who supports the idea.
The proposal, conceived by George Beier, the President of the Willard Neighborhood Association, would see money diverted from subsidies currently given to city employees for membership of the YMCA. The city provides $230,000 a year to subsidize … Continue reading »
Pools majority falls short: Closures expected
Measure C, the ballot proposition that would have funded rehabilitation of Berkeley’s four pools, won just over 60% of the vote, falling short of the required two-thirds.
Robert Collier, co-chair of the Berkeley Pools Campaign, said in an email exchange shortly after the votes were counted last night, “Measure C lost only because of the Prop. 13 two-thirds requirement for new taxes.” He continued:
In any other system but California’s, we would have won a … Continue reading »
What’s on today’s ballot?
According to the Field Poll, a record-low turnout of voters is expected in today’s election — perhaps as little as one-third. Berkeley, which is more politically oriented than many places, should do better.
There’s only one Berkeley-specific item on the ballot today, Measure C, which would issue bonds to fund renovation of Berkeley’s pools and a new multipurpose pool at King. Some of the pros and cons of Measure C have been argued in a number … Continue reading »
Comment: When Tom met Shirley in support of pools
Robert Collier, co-chair of the Berkeley Pools Campaign, writes about this week’s press conference for Measure C, which is on the ballot in next Tuesday’s election.
At a press conference late Tuesday, Mayor Tom Bates and former Mayor Shirley Dean temporarily set aside their longtime rivalry to join forces in denouncing the anti-Measure C campaign.
“We’ve seen a sort of scurrilous campaign being run against Measure C, things that are just outright lies, deceptions and outright … Continue reading »
Mayor Bates pushed into pool for Measure C
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, along with council-members Linda Maio and Kriss Worthington, were pushed, fully clothed and voluntarily, into Willard swimming pool yesterday at a gathering to express their support of Measure C.
Measure C, which is on the June 8 ballot, aims to save Berkeley pools and, without it, Willard pool is slated for permanent closure on July 1.
Comment: Measure C creates a legacy
Robert Collier lives in North Berkeley and is co-chair of the Berkeley Pools Campaign. He writes about the intensifying campaign for Measure C:
In Berkeley, local folk know it’s election season when the city’s streets begin to be garlanded with election signs supporting one or another candidate or ballot measure. By that standard, this weekend marked the official opening for the June 8 election.
Around Berkeley, signs began to sprout like mushrooms overnight in support of Continue reading »
